I have wanted to start a thread like this for a long time, but I am now getting around to it. This thread is not only for the official Elseworlds books, but also for books not in continuity, like unofficial entries into the Imaginary Stories category, like Batman Odyssey and Dark Knight Returns (although I won't be doing that one myself, because DKR is one of my least favorite comics ever...yes, I admit it!).
I have one to start off, but everyone feel free to chime in and share your thoughts on anything you read or have read that fits the category.
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Superman/Wonder Woman: Whom Gods Destroy #1
This is a book that I did not read when it came out in 1996. Come to think of it, I was in college, and the thought of buying a prestige comic was unthinkable at the time.
It's written by Chris Claremont with art by Dusty Abell.
The story takes place in the future, where Lois Lane and Lana Lang have grown older, but Superman has not. This has caused a serious rift between Superman and Lois. Lois and Lana are besties also.
Superman is doing his best to stay human, but even he has some pretty dark thoughts, such as the fact that he's just waiting until Lois and Lana die so that he can finally lose his ties with humanity.
He is being attacked by mythical beings who match his strength, so this may be where the "gods" come from in the title, other than the old quote.
So far, one issue in, it seems that this is going to be a pretty tumultuous story emotionally. No Wonder Woman yet, but I fully expect that to change with issue 2.
Has anyone else read this? I'm enjoying it more than I figured I would.
I bought this series when it was initially released but I never got around to reading it. (I've got a lot of comics like that.) I know exactly which box it's in, and where the box is located. there are a lot of series in that box (most of which I have read) which would qualify for this discussion.
Feel free to chime in any time, Jeff! You may want to pull this series out and give it a look, though. It's pretty good, much better than I had anticipated. I think I must have bought this during a DC sale digitally.
Superman/Wonder Woman: Whom Gods Destroy #2
One thing I neglected to mention about the first issue is that in this world, Nazi Germany won World War II, and while they didn't take over the United States, they did take over much of Europe. The US has kind of a delicate diplomatic relationship with Germany. This creates some ethical conundrums (conundra?) that make the story more interesting.
The gods and goddesses come out in full display in this issue, and we get to see many parts of the pantheon. We also get to see what became of Bruce Wayne and a little more about Hal Jordan.
We also finally understand what the gods and goddesses have to do with anything in this story, and it ties in nicely at the end as Superman and Elderly Lois's relationship takes a very interesting turn--one that I was not anticipating, to be honest.
23 years after it was published, I'm really enjoying this.
Superman/Wonder Woman: Whom Gods Destroy #3
Okay, things get more bizarre in this issue after Lois Lane has become the new Wonder Woman and fights a Nazi version of Wonder Woman. Circe transforms Superman into a centaur. Superman, Wonder Woman, and Lois all seem to be losing touch with their humanity.
I haven't yet mentioned how much I love Dusty Abell's art. It was unlike anything at the time, and really it's still pretty unique even by today's standards. A quick Google tells me that he's been working primarily in animation for the last several years, but he's done some pretty cool posters for Star Trek and stuff like that. I'm definitely glad he's still working in the art world.
"Feel free to chime in any time, Jeff! You may want to pull this series out and give it a look, though."
I took your suggestion and read the first issue last night. I will take your invitation to "chime in any time" a little later.
As I mentioned, I read issue #1 last night. I don’t think it takes place in the future, though. If anything, it takes place in the recent past… the mid-80s I estimate, based on the fashion and Lois and Lana’s apparent age. The story takes place not only in a world in which the Third Reich was never defeated, but one in which Superman initially appeared in 1938. Also, Germany dropped an atomic bomb on Metropolis in 1963. (Presumably, it was this act which finally brought World War II to an end.) Another interesting point: the bomb was dropped on the same day, in our reality, President Kennedy was assassinated.
Story-wise, despite this being an ElseWorlds, these characters feel more familiar to me than the post-Flashpoint versions of Superman, Lois Lane and Lana Lang. Surprisingly, Wonder Woman has not yet appeared.
I also took a look through the short-box I keep this series in. It also includes Marvel/DC crossovers (culminating with JLA/Avengers), Access titles, “Amalgam” comics, Stan Lee’s “Just Imagine” one-shots, DC’s “Realworlds” one-shots and, last but not least, JLA: Created Equal by Fabian Nicieza and Kevin Maquire. Do any of those sound interesting to anyone in light of this discussion thread?
I’ll read isuue #2 (and perhaps #3-4) of Whom Gods Destroy tonight.
I'll bet you're right about the timeline--I just saw older Lois and Lana and equated that to the future, but what you said makes much more sense.
I was actually thinking about starting another thread featuring DC crossovers with other companies, but I see nothing at all wrong with doing them here. I would love to re-read the Amalgam comics!
Did you read #4 yet, Jeff? I don't want to post anything about it until you have.
Go ahead and post. I won't read it until I've read #4. (I haven't read #3 yet, or your post on it.) I'll catch up over the weekend and post my final reaction on Monday.
I'm going to have to wait until tomorrow most likely to post about it, because I'm realizing I'm going to need to take another spin through the pages before I can get a good recall on it.
The best news is that I did locate all of my Amalgam Comics! I think, just so we can keep things straight, I'm going to start another thread to see who all wants to join in on a read through!
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